The Good News Community Newspaper

When You, Then God

By Keith Chandler, Journey Christian Church

When you do X, then you get Y.

When you’re kind to people, they tend to be kind back.
When you save money, then you have more money.
When you take care of your car, it tends to last longer.
We understand when you get X, then you get Y.

But would it surprise you to know that we serve a when, then kind of God?

Throughout the Bible, God teaches this. God says to Adam and Eve, “When you stay away from that tree, then I’ll make your life good.”

It continues with Noah. “When you build this boat, by these specifications, then I’m going to save you and start all over with you.”

Then Abraham. God comes to him and says, “I know you’re old, but when you put your trust in me, then I’m going to make you the father of many nations.”

It continues with Moses. “When you choose to follow me, then I’m going to have you lead my people out of slavery.”

It continues on to Jesus. Jesus said, “When you seek, you will find, and when you knock, the door will be opened. When you ask, then it will be answered. When you remain in me, then you will begin to look like me.”

Throughout scripture, God is letting us know that when you do X, then you get Y.

Why is so important for us?

There’s a tendency for us is to drift one way or the other in the way we view the Bible. Some drift toward the idea that the Bible is simply our get out of hell free card.

Read enough of it to know the prayers and the things you got to do in order to escape hell and go to heaven. Once you figure that out, you think, “I don’t need to read the Bible anymore. I’ve done what I need to do.”

Others see the Bible like ancient literature. We put it on the shelf with our collection of other books. The truth is, the Bible is filled with all these amazing principles that God wants to do in our life, but he’s basically saying, ”Your move. When you do X, then I will do Y. But I’m waiting on you.”